Cheat Sheet – Semifinals
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)
No. 4 Las Vegas vs. No. 1 Washington
Regular Season Meetings (Washington 2-1 SU/ATS, Over 3-0, Home Team 0-3 SU/ATS)
June 20 - Washington (+3.5) 95 at Las Vegas 72 (Over 166.5)
July 5 - Washington (-1) 99 at Las Vegas 70 (Over 166)
July 13 - Las Vegas (+3) 85 at Washington 81 (Over 163.5)
Aces: 22-13 Straight-Up, 13-22 Against the Spread, 18-16-1 Over/Under
Mystics: 26-8 Straight-Up, 20-13-1 Against the Spread, 20-14 Over/Under
-- Las Vegas shocked Chicago in the second round on a steal and desperation three-pointer in the final 10 seconds of a 93-92 victory as four-point favorites.
-- The Aces owned the second-worst ATS record in the league at 13-22, behind the Liberty’s 11-21-2 ATS mark.
-- Las Vegas has won eight of its last nine home games, but has compiled a 3-6 record in its previous nine road contests.
-- Washington put together the top record in the league at 26-8, while closing the season on an 11-1 run.
-- The Mystics have won 10 consecutive home contests, as Washington has covered seven times in this span.
-- Washington’s offense has topped the 86-point mark in each of its last 13 victories, while the Mystics are 6-2 in their last eight road affairs.
-- The road team captured all three meetings this season, as Washington destroyed Las Vegas in the first matchup, 95-72 as 3 ½-point underdogs on June 20.-- The Mystics led the Aces, 51-36 at halftime in the next matchup in Sin City on July 6 before an earthquake stopped the contest. The teams resumed the game one month later as Washington cruised to a 99-70 rout, capped off by a 24-11 fourth quarter run.
-- Las Vegas broke through in D.C. in the final regular season matchup on July 13 in an 85-81 win as three-point underdogs. The Mystics played without leading scorer Elena Delle Donne, as Washington squandered a 12-point lead after the first quarter.
-- This is the first-ever meeting in the postseason between these two franchises (Las Vegas started in Utah then moved to San Antonio before settling as the Aces two seasons ago).
-- Las Vegas is taking part in the playoffs for the first time since its move from San Antonio in 2018, and its first postseason appearance since 2014.
-- Washington is back in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons, as the Mystics are coming off a loss in the WNBA Finals last season to Seattle.
(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)
No. 3 Los Angeles vs. No. 2 Connecticut
Regular Season Meetings (Los Angeles 2-1 SU/ATS, Under 2-1, Home Team 3-0 SU/ATS)
May 31 - Los Angeles (+2.5) 77 vs. Connecticut 70 (Under 164.5)
June 6 - Connecticut (-7) 89 vs. Los Angeles 77 (Over 157.5)
Aug. 25 - Los Angeles (-4.5) 84 vs. Connecticut 72 (Under 156.5)
Sparks: 23-12 Straight-up, 18-16-1 Against the Spread, 19-16 Over/Under
Sun: 23-11 Straight-up, 14-19-1 Against the Spread, 17-17 Over/Under
-- Los Angeles dominated Seattle, 92-69 in the second round as seven-point favorites to advance to the semifinals.
-- The Sparks have won eight of their last 10 games, including seven consecutive wins at home in this stretch.
-- Los Angeles struggled on the road this season by posting a 7-10 SU and 5-11-1 ATS record, including a 2-4 ATS mark as an away underdog. Five of the seven road wins came against non-playoff teams.
-- The Sparks have caught fire at home by winning 15 consecutive games at Staples Center, including seven straight victories by double-digits.
-- The Sun put together a 15-2 record at home, including wins in nine of their final 10 home contests. However, Connecticut went 5-5 ATS in the last 10 home games.
-- Connecticut enters the playoffs off consecutive losses to Chicago and Indiana to close out the regular season, while riding a five-game OVER streak.
-- Since starting the season on a 6-3 ATS run, the Sun has slumped to an 8-16-1 ATS ledger in the last 25 games.
-- Connecticut began with road wins in three of its four tries on the highway, but finished 5-8 in the last 13 away contests, including a 2-9 ATS run as a road favorite.
-- The home team won all three matchups this season, as all three games were decided by seven points or more.
-- Los Angeles beat Connecticut as 2 ½-point home underdogs on May 31 in a 77-70 triumph following a season-opening defeat to Las Vegas.
-- The Sun jumped out to a 12-point lead after one quarter in the next matchup one week later in Connecticut and grabbed an 89-77 win as seven-point favorites.
-- The Sparks took the series finale at Staples Center on August 25 as 4 ½-point favorites, 84-72.
-- This is the first playoff meeting between the Sparks and Sun ever.
-- Connecticut is making its third straight playoff appearance, while Los Angeles is in the postseason for an eighth consecutive campaign.
-- The Sun lost to Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs each of the past two seasons, while making its last appearance in the WNBA Finals back in 2005 as they lost to Sacramento.
-- The Sparks reached the WNBA Finals in 2016 and 2017 and faced the Lynx both times. Los Angeles won the title in 2016, but failed to repeat in a series loss to Minnesota in 2017.
Wnba News
